Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Defence the total cost to the Exchequer of the two Government jets since the Government came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23403/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form a detailed breakdown of each journey undertaken by each of the two Government jets; the purpose of each trip; the members of the Government or other Ministers present, if any, since this Government came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23404/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.

The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. The CASA maritime patrol aircraft have been used infrequently for Ministerial Air Transport missions where no MATS aircraft has been available for operational or technical reasons. Details of usage of the Ministerial Air Transport Service from 9 March 2011 to date in 2012 are set out in the tabular statement attached, and include details of the requesting Minister(s), dates of travel, mission route and Ministerial time on board. The purpose of each trip is a matter for the requesting Department and is not included in the statement. The details provided relate to requests from Government Ministers that have been approved by the Taoiseach.

The Department follows the normal practice in the aviation business of costing aircraft by reference to the cost per flying hour under each of two headings:

· The direct cost which includes costs which are additional to those associated with having the aircraft and which only arise when the aircraft is flown including maintenance, fuel and support services such as catering costs, cleaning services and airport handling charges.

· The total cost which is the direct cost plus the costs associated with having the aircraft and includes depreciation and personnel costs.

Costs in 2011/12:

These are average costs which take a number of variables into account. It is not possible to assign an exact cost to any particular mission or Minister.